Ely cathedral's majestic panorama threatened by development

Stunning as your picture of Ely Cathedral is (Shortcuts, G2, 29 November), it is perhaps more stunning that the local county and district councils are about to alter this distant view for ever. Your readers may like to know that planning permission for an elevated flyover over a kilometre long is being sought that will effectively mask out what are some of the most quintessential views of this fantastic building, bringing high-speed road noise and visual blight to this peaceful rural scene. This is allied to a station and out-of-town shopping development that in initial plans envisages a multi-deck car park some four storeys high, built on top of the railway embankment pictured. I am a passionate supporter of affordable housing growth, but fail to see how the proposed outrages are going to persuade local people that "new development would be beautiful", to quote planning minister Nick Boles.Cllr Ian Allen(Ex-leader, Lib Dem group), non-aligned, East Cambridgeshire district council